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Show Describe your faith. How have your personal beliefs helped you understand the pain that comes in life? How do you personally cope with pain? Age. Sex. Where are you from? Life comes with pain, guaranteed, but I want to sell you the idea that life's pain also comes with a promise: if you exercise a positive attitude it will make you stronger than your pain is painful. We've all seen someone do it: beat the odds, overcome the seemingly impossible. Pain doesn't have to break your spirit. We're made of tough stuff, humans. I am Christian, a member of the church of JesusChrist of latter day saints It has helped me realize that my pain helps me achieve far and greater blessings that will come in life. It also has helped me realize I am never left alone with that pain. each with a different flavor, and I look at pain as something like hunger. I know what I want to eat, my body is telling me what resources it needs, and so I eat that thing that will be most beneficial-whatever I need at the time. through time as we advance through the years, and mundane acts of life can touch a nerve at any moment, making the pain feel fresh and new. However, that said, my faith allows me to do two things. First, it helps me to pine for a perfect space—a space filled with light, free from pain, from anxieties and social pressures, a space filled with love and people to love, including those loved and lost in this imperfect, gray, crooked, turbulent place. And second, counterbalanced by hope, it allows me to peer deep into the harsh realities of this world, and then choose to be happy. My faith isn't a pair of rose-colored glasses. Rather it allows me to see things as they really are, without becoming ruffled, unsettled or uneasy. It allows me to acknowledge the pains of life and loss in the fullest extent, but then gives me strength to shoulder the burden, knowing that all pain is fleeting. The cavern carved out by sorrow will one day be filled up with joy. 26, M, Darek P. from California 25, M, Provo, Utah I separate myself from the world and go outside where it is quiet 23, F, Hanna from Alaska Christian I believe in a loving Heavenly Father who has placed us in a mortal arena where we grow and gain strength through trials. I don't believe He places trials in our path, but allows us to face them as time rolls on. It's a bit like Highlander-ever seen it? There are finite immortal-ish beings that live on the earth, among mortal men, but who are in a conflict from which only one can emerge. When one immortal meets another, they have epic sword fights which ends with one of them dead (I think they have to decapitate the other), and the victor absorbing the other's strength. Anyway, that's fairly graphic, but sometimes our trials can be, too. It's up to us to decide if we absorb strength from the trial as it passes by us, as our Father once did, or if we let it weaken us for the next trial. Pagan; most of my worship, I suppose you can call it that, is directed towards the so called remover and placer of obstacles, lord of knowledge and prosperity, Ganesha; a notable Hindu deity. I suppose I look towards several deities myselftheir teachings and ideals at least, for spiritual guidance. And common sense. Depends. Emotional pain drives me to "ask" or pray for assistance. One does not exactly demand from any deity, I feel, anything. Except maybe the strength to push past an event, or physical pain. Example, "Ganesha, allow me some strength to ace this interview - I am so anxious here." saying, "Ganesha, make me ace this interview! I want it!"; this sounds rude. I try—I say try because sometimes, we forget to keep up with these things—I try to maintain a mantra or two, breathing exercise. I also indulge in a nightly cup of soothing tea - and where I can allow for the time, meditation, writing or simple things like singing loudly in the car. HEX / VI Christian/Mormon Of all the types of pain, the most debilitating I've experienced is the pain of loss—feeling hollow, aching for the warmth of a loved one and pining for the security of their arms. This type of pain escapes my ability to capture with words. It can seem ever-present and ever-shifting. It lingers 25, M, Provo, Utah Christian. Mormonism. A little bit of existentialism. Religion systems remind me that there is more to my life and my time on Earth than my mere existence. When I feel pain, even if it is for months or years, that's a tiny moment in eternity. Mormons call it eternal perspective, but I prefer just to call it perspective. The account of Christ's pain on Earth gives great perspective when I am in pain. He shares the mortal experience of pain with each individual. He empathizes with us. He knows it hurts. But His example shows us we can get it over it, so we do. These perspectives lead to a greater understanding of the work taking place inside of me, as well. No pain is for naught. What comfort that brings my heart! of my pain. Instead I know that pain happens to everyone because stuff just happens. We make choices that result in pain. I turn to friends and loved ones for support and as an outlet to process my thoughts and feelings. I use therapeutic techniques to help ease my mental and emotional pain. I seek experts for help when the pain seems beyond me. tivities to occupy my solitude. Reading, drawing, writing, long drives to unknown places, I take comfort in embracing the emotion. It takes away its negative power. especially help me when going though mental and emotional pain. 22, F, Rogers, Arkansas I am a Christian. More specifically, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can call me LDS, or you can call me a Mormon. I don't mind. Atheist Perspective, perspective, perspective. No matter the problems we face, there are bigger issues for us to conquer. Life is fleeting. I write. I think. I write some more. Then I pray. Finally, I talk. 22,F, C. Rosenlof from Salt Lake City, Utah Try and throw myself into my work...let the tyranny of a routine carry me through. Christian; specifically, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 52, M, David W. from the West (Idaho, Montana, Utah) Mormon with universalist/Buddhist/Sufi/agnostic leanings. I've learned that heaven and hell are states of mind, and that we have the power, through Christ, to be redemptive readers of our own life experiences. Through accessing the vulnerable, empathic power of the Atonement, we can be understood, healed, and redeemed. That doesn't mean pain will go away, but it does mean that if we own that pain we can find peace in it. Too often I cope by retreating, by shutting down, by emotionally turning myself off. Sometimes that manifests itself in physically shutting down as well. At my best, I cope by processing my pain through creativity--whether that's through the arts or simply through the creative power of religion: finding meaning in the painful chaos of everyday life. The cathartic power of reading or seeing beautiful art, film, theater, literature, or music is As trials, as opportunities to experience the bad so as to recognize the good. Pain, be it physical or emotional, complicates our existence. Pain can motivate, can impede, can seize a person so tightly that they can't see beyond it. But, if you can, if you are willing to see beyond your pain, I think there is opportunity to learn something about the world, about humanity, and about yourself. I talk. Often I talk with myself about it (odd, I know). There is a release, a relief that comes from vocalizing issues and pain. I'm able to say how I'd like to cope with the pain. I tell myself what there is to learn. In essence, I become my own sounding board. 23,M, Austin from Orem, Utah Agnostic but leaning toward atheism. It has made me realize that pain is not a punishment from God and that I don't need to search through my past for sin to understand the origin 22, M, Cody C. from Utah It helps me see things objectively. 29, F, Provo, Utah I get over it. Agnostic 30, M, Mexico Shit happens. So do good things. All of the above I run directly at it and usually find that it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Perhaps I am masochistic, but often, I find the process of pain to be pleasant because of the strength I gain and increased capacity to live well. 27, M, North Carolina The world is full of different circumstances. If you don't like yours feel free to change it. Pain is life. If you're not feeling pain from time to time then you're not living; if the pain is too much change and adapt. LDS 31, F, N. Allen from Southern California It depends on which category it comes from. Physical, I tend to grimace and bear it; I'm not a big fan of pills. Emotional, I lean on my friends and family. Spiritual (and every other category, actually), I lean on my Heavenly Father. Mental, I draw from all of these sources. Sometimes dealing with non-physical pain means withdrawing from others and licking my wounds for a bit. I've found a lot of sources of strength in my life, also an important way for me to process my pain, particularly the things that are too hard for me to deal with that I try to push out of my mind. Coping with Pain / Emily Fairchild / HEX Writer I am a Christian, of sorts. My religious affiliation has more to do with formalities than with my faith, which stems from a lifetime of trials, strayings, and then a great sense if comfort when I return to living a life of peace, joy, and then happiness. The most significant and abundant pain I would say I feel/have felt is loneliness. My religious beliefs allow me to feel comforted that there always was/is/will be someone looking out for my wellbeing. That I never am alone, except maybe in instances where I have ignored and insulted those higher powers for more worldly desires. Feelings of loneliness stemming from loss, with my typical Christian beliefs, are dulled by the concept of a heaven- this indescribable and holy haven for our spirits to gather and rejoice. The deceased wait and watch for when you get to their jubilant company. I couldn't fabricate a more peaceful answer to death than that. My personal way of coping with pain probably isn't the most socially acceptable method. People want to see others react to physical and emotional pain. They want to see that you, too, are human, to justify and make acceptable their reactions. Anyways, my method is very introverted and private. I mourn privately, saving my face of strength for those around me. I express physical pain in grimaces, not in cries. And loneliness is not an expressed situation. I turn to peaceful ac- 32, M, Georgia Christian I have recently given my problems to the lord because they were just so hard to carry on my own. I was suffering. And it helped almost instantly...I tried to exclude god during my trying times because I felt I brought on my own pain and problems...but I needed him more than I knew. When I asked for help, he gave it. It was pretty awesome. Because I believe in a divine being who understands my pain perfectly, I am more able to endure that pain. I have the mercy in my life to know that no matter what I go through, I am not alone. Someone will always understand me. It is much easier to endure pain when there is someone there who completely understands you. And that someone is Jesus Christ. When I am trying to cope with physical pain, I try to just stop and wait a moment. Close my eyes and let myself really feel the pain. I know that sounds crazy. But the more I feel it, the less it hurts. Bizarre? Probably. I guess if I snapped my arm in two, I wouldn't want to close my eyes and feel that pain. But for smaller physical ailments, it works well. I also pray. Pray and cry and beg to be relieved. And, often as a last resort, I take painkillers. Mental, emotional, and spiritual pain is a little different. That can only be solved through talking it out with my husband and praying. Honestly, there is no way I could endure any pain without prayer. I grew up as a Druze; I was raised agnostic in my family. The Druze community around me had an effect on me and I struggled for a long time to get rid of any religious beliefs that were indirectly forced on me by the society as a kid. Now I live my life in such a way that I would change nothing even if I knew God existed, I would change nothing even if I knew God did not exist. I think that personal religious beliefs helped ease the pain that comes in life but never helped me understand this pain. Contrary to what religious beliefs teach us, this pain should not be taken personal and it is not about the person who is suffering. Someone thinking that he/she is suffering just because God wants to test him/her projects more stress on that person. Pain is part of life, pain is everywhere around us. While this does not alleviate the pain, it helps me cope with it. It makes me more resilient. I try to stay strong for the people I love. My pain causes pain to others that care for me and that's why I fight hard to overcome it. I don't take pain in a personal way. I accept it and try to find ways to cure it. I acknowledge it and let go. I also think of the pains of other people who are suffering, and try to feel grateful for what I have. 28, M, Khalid Z. from Lebanon Christian They haven't, honestly. 22, F, Provo, Utah Smoke weed. Christian Take it one day at a time. Never give up hope. It seems to get a little better with age. I realize that some things just aren't worth the worry. I try to forgive myself too. Remind myself that I'm pretty cool. I treat others with respect. 36, F, Kelly 0. from Owosso, Michigan. Agnostic... I believe in an afterlife, just not a specific religion. It's helped me realize that it's something we all must go though. In order to develop as a human being, we all have to endure in one form of pain or another. It's part of life. I usually just take a nice breather. Whether it be relaxing, sleeping, or just playing video games/ watching a movie. Video games and movies 18, M, New Mexico By knowing that there will eventually be an end to pain and suffering and trying to have a positive outlook on life. I just wish the end to all the pain in life were close. With most mental, spiritual, and emotional pain, I self injure. With physical pain, I tolerate a lot knowing it'll go away. Sometimes I try to pray, sometimes it helps. Christian My belief puts pain in a perspective. Pain is both a means for peisonal development, and also I view it as less significant, since it is a small moment in time and a small part of a total existence. Discipline, I resist it. Later I conceptualize and rationalize it and let it eventually fade. 25, F, California 26, M, North East Read the rest of our submissions at hex magazine.com - HEX /VII |